

Episode 269 | DeepSeek’s Game-Changing Impact on The Future of Autonomous Driving
Xiaodi Hou, Founder & CEO of Bot Auto joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss how DeepSeek is transforming AI development and its potential impact on autonomous driving.
Dr. Hou views DeepSeek as an engineering breakthrough rather than a scientific one—challenging traditional approaches to AI model development. Unlike many companies in the field, DeepSeek has shown that powerful models can be created by optimizing systems and creatively managing resource constraints.
There are strong parallels between DeepSeek’s approach and Bot Auto’s strategy of being scrappy and cost-effective. This “DeepSeek moment” could mark a turning point for autonomous driving, where commercialization and efficiency become the primary drivers of technological advancement.
Recorded on Monday, February 3, 2025
Episode Chapters
0:00 DeepSeek
9:35 Resources Needed to Build an Autonomous Driving Model (Pre-DeepSeek)
15:44 Open-Source LLMs
23:54 Prioritization
26:08 Building the Bot Auto Autonomous Driving Model
33:37 Miles Driven and Autonomous Driving Models
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